The government insists biosecurity checks on imported food and hazardous goods coming into the UK will begin on schedule next week - despite fears a site in Kent is not ready.
MPs have questioned whether the inland border facility in Sevington, near Ashford, is sufficiently prepared for the extra workload, amid fears of traffic queues and delays.
The cross-party Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee wants more information on the status of the site and whether it will be operational from Tuesday, when inspections are supposed to start.
The committee has written to the environment secretary Steve Barclay to “encourage more timely and transparent communication with stakeholders” regarding the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs’ [Defra] approach to sanitary and phytosanitary [SPS] checks.
Concerns have again been expressed at the proposal for the inspections to be carried out at the Sevington site - off junction 10A on the M20 - rather than at Dover, where a state-of-the-art facility has been prepared.
The committee chairman Sir Robert Goodwill writes that despite the government’s statements to the contrary, it is clear that ports and businesses are facing further uncertainty and have once again expressed their confusion and frustration over the delivery of the border controls.
The letter says: “It is essential that Defra urgently takes steps to communicate the changed arrangements to businesses and the public to build confidence in our incoming border controls and reduce disruption.”
The letter refers to a Defra presentation to port authorities that reportedly stated there would be a “graduated, light touch” approach and that initially, the government was to set the rate of checks to 0% for all commodity groups.
The MPs are concerned this could lead to a “sixth delay” to the implementation of SPS import checks - and also ask what a light touch approach means in practice.
Defra has insisted checks are commencing from Tuesday and the medium and high-risk goods posing the greatest biosecurity risk are being prioritised as it builds up to full check rates and high levels of compliance.
However, a presentation by the department – seen by the Financial Times – reportedly suggests that “new border systems will not be fully ready” by April 30 and therefore that queues and delays are predicted if the planned SPS checks on imports are implemented.
There are also fears that some importers will sidestep inspections at the Sevington site with it being 22 miles from Dover.
A UK government spokesperson told KentOnline: “Checks are commencing from April 30 and, as we have always said, the medium and high-risk goods posing the greatest biosecurity risk are being prioritised as we build up to full check rates and high levels of compliance. Taking a pragmatic approach to introducing our new border checks minimises disruption, protects our biosecurity and benefits everyone – especially traders.
“There has been extensive engagement with businesses over the past year – with our approach welcomed by several trade associations and port authorities. We will continue to work with and support businesses throughout this process to maintain the smooth flow of imported goods.
“We are confident we have sufficient capacity and capability across all points of entry to handle the volume and type of expected checks. It is important to remember the cost of our border checks is negligible compared to the impact of a major disease outbreak on our economy and farmers.”
